What are the benefits of interacting with nature?
In recent years, the demand for outdoor activities has been increasing.
Besides the fact that outdoor activities allow you to avoid crowded places, there are various benefits gained from interacting with nature.
So, what specific benefits are there?
3 benefits obtained through interacting with nature
First, the greatest benefit of spending time in nature is said to be the relaxation effect on both mind and body. In fact, many people may have experienced a sense of "healing" when visiting a nature-rich place on a day off. Environments abundant in nature are filled with experiences you cannot have in the city, such as smelling the scent of flowers and trees, slowly listening to the chirping of birds, and feeling the gentle breeze on your skin.
A study investigating the therapeutic effect of feeling "healing" in nature measured hormone secretion levels of 420 subjects across 35 forests nationwide. The results showed that the secretion of cortisol, known as a stress hormone, decreased by about 12%, the activity of the sympathetic nervous system, which increases tension, decreased by about 7%, while the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system, which works during relaxation, increased by about 55%.
Furthermore, exposure to nature is also expected to enhance immunity. A study titled "Forest Bathing and Mental Health Improvement" conducted by the Heisei Medical Association investigated how much natural killer cells (NK cells), a type of immune cell, increased after one day and two days of forest bathing. The results showed an approximately 27% increase after one day and about a 53% increase after two days of forest bathing.(*1)
In other words, it can be said that the healing effect of interacting with nature is scientifically proven.
Additionally, it is said that interacting with nature also influences the development of a person's sensitivity. Spending time in nature and noticing various changes, such as the color changes of leaves, the way leaves sway when the wind blows, and the scents of trees and flowers, helps nurture sensitivity. By perceiving changes in natural scenery that are rarely seen in the city, one may become more attuned to subtle changes in other matters as well.
Nowadays, when opportunities to interact with nature are said to have decreased compared to the past, it seems very important to actively create time to enjoy the outdoors with children as part of education.
What are the leisure spots in Kanto where you can enjoy various outdoor activities?
In the Kanto region, there are leisure spots where you can experience various outdoor activities. Among them, at Mobility Resort Motegi in Motegi Town, Haga District, Tochigi Prefecture, there is the "Mobility Resort Motegi Hotel" overlooking the racing course, the "Park" with attractions enjoyable for both children and adults, and "Hello Woods," where you can play and learn while interacting with nature.
Hello Woods is a nature-rich area carefully managed by dedicated staff, inhabited by many living creatures. Here, in addition to camping, there are many enjoyable spots such as "Lizard Rock Climbing," where you can climb a 1.5-meter-high wall, and the "Animal Research Laboratory," where you can observe the ecology of living things. Various other outdoor activities that parents and children can enjoy together are also available.
For activities, for example, within Hello Woods, there is the "Hacchoutonbo Rice Terraces" where the "Satoyama Little Adventurers ~ Mud Play in the Rice Fields ~" activity is available, allowing you to get muddy and play freely in the spaces of rice paddies where no planting has been done.
In this way, at Hello Woods, even just strolling around or playing on the playground equipment placed throughout the park allows you to fully interact with nature, but there are also activities that let you experience nature more deeply, so you can enjoy different ways each time you visit.
Interacting with nature not only brings many relaxation benefits to both mind and body,
but it is also expected to improve immunity and nurture sensitivity.
Especially now, when stress is easily felt, why not enjoy outdoor activities in nature as a way to refresh yourself?
